Summary: Study through the eleveth chapter of Hebrews; Noah stands as a great example in believing God and in believing God’s warning of coming judgment.

This verse begins the list of believers included in God’s great hall of faith. The first two mentioned last week were Abel and Enoch, they were discussed in the overall description of Faith. They illustrate for us the spiritual power of faith.

Each of these believers listed in this passage will show us a certain kind of faith. Tonight we well see that Noah had a fearful and reverent faith. Each of these will stand as great examples for us, and stirring us to the challenge to believe God in the midst of a corrupt, godless, and dying world.

Tonight as we look at Noah, by way of introduction I will go back to the book of Genesis and read the original account of Noah and God’s call on his life to take that step of faith and believe Him and His promises. (Read Genesis 6:1-22)

Noah stands as a great example in believing God and in believing God’s warning of coming judgment. His faith was unique in that it was a fearful and reverent faith. Tonight let’s see what we can learn from the life of Noah and His faith that was counted towards Him as righteousness.

Vs. 7a “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.”

There was a time back in world history when the earth had become so wicked that it was filled with corruption and violence. It was so corrupt that Genesis told us that “every imagination of man’s heart was corrupt and evil”. Man had reached the point of no return; they would never repent and return to God. God was left with no choice: the earth had to be destroyed.

However, there was one man who stood out in God’s eyes, one man who “found favor” with God, one man who was Godly in the way that he lived his life, that man was Noah. Noah worshiped and honored God with his life despite the culture around him that was doing the opposite; you could say that Noah lived out Plan A in a world set on living out Plan B.

Noah received the warning from God in “holy fear”. The word fear means “Godly fear”. It has the idea of reverence, standing in awe of God and His warning, diligently taking God at His Word. Noah believed God’s warning of coming judgment and he began to build the ark with a Godly fear and reverence, knowing that what God said would come true. Noah believed it and he knew it by faith.

God is going to judge the earth a second time—the whole earth, every man and woman. God has warned the earth. His judgment on ungodly men and women is going to fall on the earth. We must fear God, fear Him with a godly fear and reverence, by standing in awe of Him and His warning, by diligently taking Him at His word.

Noah stood out from the rest of the world because he continued to worship and honor God despite of the culture around him.

II. Noah took a stand in his faith despite the mockery of the world.

Vs. 7a “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.”